Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU738
2007-04-10 12:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: HEART DOCTOR EXAMINES MAOIST CHIEF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
MED FOR LARRY BROWN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR AMED NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: HEART DOCTOR EXAMINES MAOIST CHIEF
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Cardiologist Gets Request He Can't Refuse
-----------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
MED FOR LARRY BROWN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR AMED NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: HEART DOCTOR EXAMINES MAOIST CHIEF
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Cardiologist Gets Request He Can't Refuse
--------------
1. (C) Dr. Bharat Rawat, a prominent cardiologist who works
at Norvic Escorts International Hospital in Kathmandu, told
the Ambassador recently that he had received a request that
he could not refuse from the Maoists not long ago. According
to Dr. Rawat, a group of Maoists had shown up at his office
and insisted that he go with them. At first, Dr. Rawat said,
he had feared for his life. He explained to the Ambassador
that the medical profession had been the frequent target of
Maoist extortion demands. Doctors who had failed to pay had
suffered dire consequences. In his case, after traveling
across the city, he had found himself in a modest building.
To his surprise, he was ushered in to see the Maoist chief,
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda. Prachanda asked him to
perform a physical. Dr. Rawat demurred, saying he did not
have any of his instruments, and offered to see Prachanda in
his clinic. Prachanda rejected that option and insisted on
being seen then and there. Dr. Rawat reported that he
hurriedly contacted an assistant and urged the aide to bring
him a general medical kit so he could conduct an exam.
Prachanda Appears Healthy
--------------
2. (C) Dr. Rawat stated to the Ambassador that Prachanda
appeared to be generally healthy. That said, Prachanda
himself acknowledged that he both smoked and drank and was
not getting enough exercise; as a result, Prachanda was
carrying more weight than he should. The cardiologist
admitted that he did not have the advantage of being able to
do any blood work or to conduct other more complicated tests,
and hoped to see Prachanda at his clinic someday to conduct a
more thorough test.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Dr. Rawat has a very good reputation as a
professional, and the Mission has referred patients to him on
numerous occasions. He strikes us as a reliable source of
information. As for Prachanda's health, his expanding
waistline over the past year has been obvious to even the
most casual observer. With King Gyanendra having lost his
position as Head of State since the adoption of the Interim
Constitution in January and Prime Minister and de facto Head
of State G.P. Koirala in very poor health, Prachanda, who is
52, may be looking to his future. If he wishes to become
Nepal's first President, as some observers here suggest, he
will need to stay healthy.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
MED FOR LARRY BROWN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR AMED NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: HEART DOCTOR EXAMINES MAOIST CHIEF
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Cardiologist Gets Request He Can't Refuse
--------------
1. (C) Dr. Bharat Rawat, a prominent cardiologist who works
at Norvic Escorts International Hospital in Kathmandu, told
the Ambassador recently that he had received a request that
he could not refuse from the Maoists not long ago. According
to Dr. Rawat, a group of Maoists had shown up at his office
and insisted that he go with them. At first, Dr. Rawat said,
he had feared for his life. He explained to the Ambassador
that the medical profession had been the frequent target of
Maoist extortion demands. Doctors who had failed to pay had
suffered dire consequences. In his case, after traveling
across the city, he had found himself in a modest building.
To his surprise, he was ushered in to see the Maoist chief,
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda. Prachanda asked him to
perform a physical. Dr. Rawat demurred, saying he did not
have any of his instruments, and offered to see Prachanda in
his clinic. Prachanda rejected that option and insisted on
being seen then and there. Dr. Rawat reported that he
hurriedly contacted an assistant and urged the aide to bring
him a general medical kit so he could conduct an exam.
Prachanda Appears Healthy
--------------
2. (C) Dr. Rawat stated to the Ambassador that Prachanda
appeared to be generally healthy. That said, Prachanda
himself acknowledged that he both smoked and drank and was
not getting enough exercise; as a result, Prachanda was
carrying more weight than he should. The cardiologist
admitted that he did not have the advantage of being able to
do any blood work or to conduct other more complicated tests,
and hoped to see Prachanda at his clinic someday to conduct a
more thorough test.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Dr. Rawat has a very good reputation as a
professional, and the Mission has referred patients to him on
numerous occasions. He strikes us as a reliable source of
information. As for Prachanda's health, his expanding
waistline over the past year has been obvious to even the
most casual observer. With King Gyanendra having lost his
position as Head of State since the adoption of the Interim
Constitution in January and Prime Minister and de facto Head
of State G.P. Koirala in very poor health, Prachanda, who is
52, may be looking to his future. If he wishes to become
Nepal's first President, as some observers here suggest, he
will need to stay healthy.
MORIARTY